28 FEBUARY 1998: INDONESIA: DROUGHT

Jenny Grant, China Morning Post, reports that East Kalimantan is suffering from a shortage or even absence of water for drinking and agriculture, with saltwater intrusion up to 60 km inshore in rivers. Bottled water is economically out of the reach of many inhabitants. Rice prices have doubled since last year. Contaminated water supplies raise the spectre of outbreaks of water-borne diseases.

Back to The 1997 El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO 97-98)